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It's a couple weeks before Halloween and the weather is beginning to change to a cooler disposition. Leaves are now rustling on their branches- not quite dry enough to fall but noisy in the chilling air of the early evening.
A week ago- Bulma was excited to announce that because of the season of hallowing- she had decided to schedule a get-together of sorts!
‘It isn’t a costume party!’ she had stated.
So, Gohan had appeared wearing what he normally does.
Though now he must say he feels a little plain seeing that many others had dressed up as monsters or magical creatures despite Bulma’s words.
Even Bulma herself has show up dressed up in Saiyan regalia!
He can’t help but smile a bit to himself watching her strut around in what must be her version of the ‘Princess of All Saiyans’!
It’s been an hour or so and he’s found himself at the food arrangements spending his time people watching.
Gohan sips on some fruity punch and smiles at the scene of party-goers around him.
He’d arrived with Videl- who is sporting a rather cute and sleek fall dress and Pan all dressed up in a little hand-made angel costume. In fact- that’s why he stationed himself at the buffet table. He wants to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t eat too many sweets!
Though, it seems he’s got his work cut out for him regardless if she’s hyped up on sugar or not! He watches as she bounds around the Capsule Corp. foyer with Bulla. They're squealing happily while they play chase. The two little girls are growing like sprouts; all energy and life with rest only when the sun goes down!
They're scampering around under legs and over tables- just barely avoiding knocking over anything expensive. Gohan winces each time there is a close call- his head is jolting up and to the side watching them while trying not to crush his cup of punch.
His girl nearly evades a tag from her friend and meets his eyes. Gohan watches as she zooms towards him and under the table. Bulla comes in pursuit not long after.
The blue haired girl is stamping her foot with her hands on her hips, “Come out now! I know you’re there, Pan!”
Gohan turns around and figures that some punch would be a good break for the children.
He’s ladling out some when Bulla shoots underneath the table with a squeal.
Then, predictably; the entire table kicks up into the air and the bowl splashes up fruity punch across his entire self.
The bowl spins a couple times on the table before settling. He blinks- looking down at his stained clothes, then to the cup of punch in his hand, and then towards the crowd now watching in interest.
It’s a long pause of silence before Pan and Bulla peek out from under the red-stained table cloth and share a mirrored expression.
Finally- his daughter looks back to him and scoots herself up against his leg. She kicks at the floor and tugs at his pant leg.
He blinks from her to the cup of punch still in his hand. Finally- she tilts her head up to meet his eyes. They level their gazes for a moment.
Then- the two burst out in laughter.
Gohan bends down to his knees and ruffles her hair- steadying her when she tries to go in for a hug.
"Oh dear- Pan!"
She's peering up at him through the little paper maché halo she had glued together herself for her angel costume, "You're all red now- Papa!"
Gohan watches as Bulla comes skipping up to Pan. She looks between her friend and Gohan and tries her best to hide her own giggles behind her palms.
Gohan gives Pan one more glance-over before rising back to his feet and handing his glass of punch to his daughter.
Pan is still inquisitively observing him. He smiles and suggests, "How about you go find your Mama and tell her what happened?"
She smiles wide and innocent. Pan grabs the glass and Bulla’s hand before the two kids dash off into the crowd of costumed people.
Gohan smiles fondly at the sight. He finally looks down at his white shirt- now a lovely pink color and grips at the soaked fabric. He’ll have to change completely. Should he ask Bulma for clothes? No- and he can’t just leave Pan-
He feels a familiar Ki tickle the hair on the back of his neck. Gohan smiles and is expecting an amused look when he turns around.
He gazes up and finds Piccolo looking down at him. Naturally- with a smug expression.
Piccolo gives him a once over. He’s got his arms crossed and as usual is wearing what he always does. Finally- his mentor speaks up.
“You are alike,” His smile is reaching his eyes.
Gohan just perks his eyebrows up, "Oh- Hi, Piccolo. What do you mean?"
“Pan and you; carefree,” comes a gruff reply.
Gohan nods and places his hands on his hips. He stares down at the floor and kicks the toe of his shoe. "Oh yes... you know I think I'll go and get changed."
Piccolo nods.
He gazes back up, laughing and suggesting,
"Oh- how could I forget? Maybe you... could use your powers and give me a new set of clothes?"
Piccolo’s expression jumps minutely almost as if he is remembering he can do such a feat of magic,
“Okay. What do you want,” He deadpans.
Gohan waves his arms- motioning to all of Piccolo, "Hey! How about a costume like yours?"
It wouldn’t be the first time!
“Okay.”
Piccolo scrunches up his brow ridges and places his hand on his arm now extending towards Gohan. He points his fingers and a shock of light flashes from his digits.
Light envelops him and Gohan looks down at himself once the glow has cleared. He suddenly feels much heavier- thanks to the shoulder pads now sitting snugly on his body. He looks down and thinks fondly of the purple fabric of the gi he’s now wearing.
He grins up at his friend, "Thanks!"
For some odd reason- a pang of worry strikes his heart. He looks behind his shoulder for a reason he cannot place. He touches his chest, feeling a squeezing sensation.
It’s been so long since I’ve worn this.
Piccolo is gazing around the crowd now. He looks about as comfortable as usual whenever Bulma throws her friends a party. Gohan doesn’t mind it of course! However- Piccolo always ends up looking a little checked-out. So to speak!
Gohan admires the white shoulder pads and tugs on the heavy weave.
To be wearing this getup once again- in much better circumstances at that- is something Gohan didn’t know he needed. The weight of the shoulder pads is speeding up his heart-rate instinctively.
Suddenly- from out in the crowd- he hears a small commotion among the guests. Piccolo is now shaking his head in what looks like annoyance.
It’s a moment later that his father wedges himself out from between two costumed party-goers. He heads straight for the buffet table and starts chowing down.
Gohan smiles and glances over to Piccolo. The other man is still shaking his head minutely.
His father manages to spare them a glance halfway through inhaling a meat bun. He waves and swallows the food whole with a wide grin.
Goku comes bounding over with his hands full of food a moment later. He’s chewing loudly when he greets the two of them.
“Hi, son! Hi, Piccolo!” He’s snapping his head between the two of them. After a moment- he gulps down a mouthful of meat bun and smiles, “Hey! Which one is which?”
Piccolo just breathes out an exasperated sound.
Gohan laughs- pulling the cape.
He clears his throat, narrowing his eyes as he lowers his voice, “Isn’t it obvious?”
Goku just lets out a laugh and stuffs another bun into his mouth, shoulders shaking as he eats.
Piccolo glances down at Gohan, his eye twitching a bit.
Gohan blushes and rubs his hair.
Goku perks up after a moment, “Eh- are you two gonna’ be training?”
Gohan glances between his father and Piccolo. That wasn’t the intent with the outfit- and yet it sounds rather pleasant now that he thinks on it. It’s been a while since he and Piccolo have sparred.
“Can I come?!”
Piccolo just shakes his head.
The party continues on.
It’s some hours later and well into the night that Gohan decides that it’s time to get Pan home. He can still feel her Ki and Videl’s not too far away.
Gohan approaches them and finds his daughter being held gently by her mother.
The sight tugs at his heartstrings.
“Videl- are you heading home?”
She nods, rocking Pan gently, “I am- but I need to grab something from the dojo. I’m sorry but it can’t wait. Could you put her to bed, Gohan?”
He nods as he’s handed his sleeping child from Videl.
She smiles a bit, glancing over his getup, “I see that you got a change of clothes.”
Gohan clears his throat and laughs along with her.
He kisses her cheek and she does the same to him.
The two of them part ways and Gohan makes his way through Capsule Corp. and back to the foyer.
Once outside in the crisp autumn air of the garden does he spot his mentor.
Piccolo is looking up at the night sky.
He tilts his head to glance behind his shoulder just as Gohan approaches his side. His eyes downcast to Pan. He looks back up at Gohan.
Gohan smiles warmly- swaying her gently. She’s still fast asleep.
“I’m going to put her down to sleep. I…- did you still want to train tonight?”
His voice is a whisper.
Piccolo nods and the two of them rise wordlessly into the sky.
The flight to the Satan mansion has him covering Pan’s body with the white fabric of his cloak so she can evade the wind chill.
Of course- he has to wake her to help her brush her teeth and get changed out of her costume. Unfortunately- this is all the little girl needs to get her energy back. And while he’d love to stay up and play with her- his daughter needs her sleep!
She races out from the bathroom and towards the balcony outside her room. Piccolo is there- having adopted his same pose from earlier outside Capsule Corp. Gohan wonders what he must be thinking looking up at the stars as he is.
Pan is already through the door and tugging on the pant leg of Piccolo's gi.
Piccolo breaks his gaze from the stars. He observes her for a moment before bending down to pick her up. Gohan comes up beside his mentor and watches in awe as Piccolo’s disposition does a complete 180.
His eyes are now wide and he’s over exaggerating his expression when his voice booms,
“Hello!”
Pan bursts out in wild giggling laughter and squeals.
Gohan’s cheeks heat up and Piccolo’s usually stoic face is now shifted to that alight with mirth.
Pan’s eyes are darting between the two of them now. She finally asks after relaxing from her giggling fit.
“How come you’re wearing the same?”
Piccolo’s eyes drift to Gohan’s form for a moment before he asks gently,
“Do you want a costume too, Pan?”
Gohan watches his daughter nod; her eyes now beginning to droop again.
Piccolo opens his palm and a glow of light emanates from Pan’s body.
Gohan blinks his eyes a couple times and can’t help but sigh out when he see’s the pajamas Pan has on now.
Pajamas with little carrots on them, in fact.
Pan spares a glance at her clothes and then wraps her arms around Piccolo’s neck. She tucks herself into Piccolo's chest as he begins to rock her gently.
The sight is shifting something within his heart.
The weight of the shoulder pads is lifting. The feeling that they carry is being replaced. Having them adorned on him again had initially sent his heart racing; some instinctive association of fear clenching his torso.
For a moment- he couldn’t breath- only watch as-
Now- now- he’s finding it easy to breath as he watches his Piccolo and Pan being so tender together.
He’s holding her gently- eyes low and expression serene.
Gohan straightens his shoulders and watches the calm expression they have both adopted. His heart is still beating fast of course- though not in fear this time. He tugs at the white fabric around his neck.
She’s asleep now.
Gohan tilts his head and leans it against Piccolo's arm. He looks up and meets gazes with his best friend. His Piccolo’s eyes so serene-
Being directed at himself now-
Soon- he finds that he’s nodding off as well.
Piccolo shifts to face him. He’s being handed Pan. Piccolo’s face is close- peering down between his own eyes and the sleeping expression of his daughters’.
Gohan bumps his forehead against Piccolos.
The other man blinks for a bit. Eventually- he places his palm against Gohan’s back and leads him inside. He hesitates at the doorway- but watches as Gohan lays his daughter down in her little bed.
He turns on the night light beside her bed and tucks her sleeping form into the covers.
Gohan stifles a yawn.
He stops at the foot of her bed- sitting on the floor and closing his eyes for a moment. Her soft breathing is settling any discontentment from the day. It’s all forgotten now.
The covers are soft against his cheek as he finds himself resting his head against them. He’ll sleep just for a moment- and then he’ll be ready to train.
Just a couple moments of shut-eye and then...
He dreams of spending the night under the stars with his mentor once again.
Something is shaking his shoulder. The weight is gone- He’s-
Waking up to the warm fall dawn light shining through the glass separating Pan’s room from the balcony.
Birds are chirping outside from their perches atop branches of trees. Scattered about the grounds of the garden are the first fallen leaves of the season.
His daughter is already scampering around her room- riling him awake and already excited about the new day.
He looks down and pulls on the fabric of his shoulder pads.
Only- he’s now wearing his own set of carrot covered pajamas.